Nice smooth back and nice scales.Good tail shape, erect and with a hint of wrap around tails, but a bit too big in my opinion.On the downside headgrowth does not look promising.Maybe it will develop further later.My guess is you would have spent less than 10 bucks for this piece so its a good buy IMO

thank u for yr kind comment. i would have pick a couple more if my tank space permits.i saw most of the fries then. This is amongst the smaller size one. some of its siblings are much much bigger but not better in "shape" though. its parents are so-called thai gigantic breed if the seller did not bluff me.

i ve always wanted to see nature vs nurture. i hope this is an experience i will enjoy by starting with these apparent shortfalsl to see how it will look in adulthood eventually. as u correctly pointed out, it is not even worth more than one green colour note. nothing to lose. yr words only strengthen my resolve to groom it.

I checked with its sibling growth in the tank i fish out this one. they are equally slow also at the LFS. but the 1st batch of its siblings putting up for sale are much much bigger. that is why this little fellow was not even for sale but leave to its own devices.